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The best thing about the Rumba is the fact that you can reef the sail if the winds get snotty or when you dump the boat (you will). We sailed a Sunfish as teenagers and it was a great boat but it did not have the performance of the Rumba which is more akin to a Laser. I bought my Rumba--two actually--from a hotel that used to rent them and then decided that they'd had too many problems with tourists getting stuck down wind of the place and calling for assistance. The boats were pretty beat up and took some fixing but when that was done I was able to sell one for the cost of both plus repairs and so got ours for the value of the repair labor. We towed ours around on vacations with the kids for several years and it was a lot of fun but it was a bit much for a kid alone. It's really a fairly performance boat for a youngster (I put a knot in the lead-line for the furler so the kids couldn't get the sail all the way to keep thing somewhat under control). With my daughter now grown, we don't use the boat much but when we do, I get a kick out of it.

My wife still prefers a Sunfish as she thinks the Rumba is too much "work" but I like the boat and it is fun. (Actually, she really prefers the "big" boat as with that, all she has to do is steer, which she can do without getting soaked--most of the time!)

FWIW...

Thanks a ton! Just want to make sure I'm not "downgrading" to a lesser boat by moving to the Rumba.

I need one more thing, hopefully someone can help me out here. See, my boat, for which I paid only $50, is missing the boom. I'm going to have a proper one bent out of aluminum tubing, but I need the dimensions. If somebody could provide accurate dimensions of the thing, that would be extremely helpful in my quest to get this thing on the water! I thought of two ways to measure it: either measure the distance between the ends (long side of the triangle) and then the other two sides by means of lashing on broom handles (or the like) to bring the roughly ninety degree angle to a point, or simply accurately measure the distance of the long side as well as the two angles. Either method will provide me with what I need to come up with a new boom. Thanks in advance to whomever can do this for me!

Can anyone perchance comment on the Rumba vs a Sunfish? I haven't been out on my Rumba yet (got it Saturday...currently assessing small repair), yet I'm considering selling the Sunfish because I can't exactly keep both boats

Dan,

The best thing about the Rumba is the fact that you can reef the sail if the winds get snotty or when you dump the boat (you will). We sailed a Sunfish as teenagers and it was a great boat but it did not have the performance of the Rumba which is more akin to a Laser. I bought my Rumba--two actually--from a hotel that used to rent them and then decided that they'd had too many problems with tourists getting stuck down wind of the place and calling for assistance. The boats were pretty beat up and took some fixing but when that was done I was able to sell one for the cost of both plus repairs and so got ours for the value of the repair labor. We towed ours around on vacations with the kids for several years and it was a lot of fun but it was a bit much for a kid alone. It's really a fairly performance boat for a youngster (I put a knot in the lead-line for the furler so the kids couldn't get the sail all the way to keep thing somewhat under control). With my daughter now grown, we don't use the boat much but when we do, I get a kick out of it.

My wife still prefers a Sunfish as she thinks the Rumba is too much "work" but I like the boat and it is fun. (Actually, she really prefers the "big" boat as with that, all she has to do is steer, which she can do without getting soaked--most of the time!)

FWIW...

05-30-2012 10:45 PM

DanielF

Re: Escape Rumba Help

Can anyone perchance comment on the Rumba vs a Sunfish? I haven't been out on my Rumba yet (got it Saturday...currently assessing small repair), yet I'm considering selling the Sunfish because I can't exactly keep both boats

As far as I know, the only supplier of Escape boat parts is George at Mountain Road Trading PostHome 603.895.3501. He is a super nice guy.

I do know that George has a source for the rudders and centerboards for the Rumba. He probably has a source for the rudder head and tillers too, if not, I was looking at my sunfish rudder head and believe it to be a functional match to the Rumba's. Unless the cost of the parts is prohibitive for you, or you just want a woodworking project, I would buy the proven parts and go sailing. I have an extensive background in boat building and fabrication and could easily carve these up but my time is too valuable. Why spend 3-4 hours cutting, sanding and finishing? I'd rather be on the water

I also have a PDF of the Rumba manual if you need it. Send me an email and I'll forward it to you.

I have been doing repairs for local state park on Rhumba escape and sunfish. The rudder metal or plastic parts are the same as sunfish. I am refinishing daggerboard and rudder and can do paper tracing or photo and measurements for you. send me email KCKASSOC@yahoo.com

Paul

01-08-2012 09:05 PM

svHyLyte

Danny--I got your email to our ship's account and made up a pattern of the rudder earlier today. I will send that off to you together with some notes and photos tomorrow. No joy on the center-board thus far but be patient. Sailing season is some while yet.

01-08-2012 11:42 AM

svHyLyte

Danny--Since I haven't rec'd anything from you I assume you cannot yet receive PM's. You can send your home address to me at svHyLyte(at)hotmail.com and I will forward a paper pattern for the rudder to you via USPS.

01-08-2012 12:05 AM

Propertydoctor

Because I am new to Sailnet and don't have 15 posts yet I can't private message anyone and because I don't have 20 posts I can't email anyone. KnotRight or anyone else that needs the Escape Rumba manual can email me direct at RFLucas64 @ gmail(dot)com and please put "Rumba Manual" in the subject line so your message doesn't end up in my trash folder.

Happy sailing!
- Propertydoctor

01-07-2012 10:48 PM

KnotRight

Thanks Propertydoctor; the manual would be nice to have. I have not been online long enough to send e-mails yet so I hope you'll get this. As it work out the boat came with all the hardware for the rudder just no blade nor anything with the centerboard. I did send a e-mail to MRT but will give them a call next week and ask about the centerboard. The bad news is the upper part of the mast is at the bottom of Kerr Lake in NC so thats my next challenge.Any suggestions would be welcome. svHyLte was kind enough to help with the rudder temp-plate so I think I'm on the way Thanks for your help Danny

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